This document provides an overview of searching academic databases for professional or academic purposes. It discusses the characteristics of academic databases, including their specialized content in areas like humanities, social sciences and science/technology. The document outlines the peer review process for academic journals, which make up much of the content within academic databases. It also describes the search process for these databases, including identifying search terms and selecting an appropriate database to search. Several major international academic databases are highlighted, including ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect and Wiley InterScience, as well as some Spanish language databases. The document concludes with instructions for accessing academic databases through the University Pompeu Fabra library system.